View full sizeAWE’s summer-long celebration of a Staten Island tradition. The Jersey Shore: It's about so much more than a TV show ...

Long after sunset, the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk remains a sea of activity: Young children run by, illuminated by twirling glowsticks won at the game booths. Their parents, exhausted from a day of amusement park rides, trail behind. Elderly couples seek out quieter benches south of Jenkinson’s Pavilion to watch the moon rise over the Atlantic while finishing a frozen custard. You can almost hear Frank Sinatra’s voice echoing: “The summer wind, came blowin in, from across the sea. It lingered there, so warm and fair, to walk with me.”

View full sizeSituated at the northern tip of the Barnegat Peninsula, Point Pleasant Beach is bordered to the east by a 1.7-mile stretch of beach and to the north by the Manasquan River. Nearly 300 years before Point Pleasant Beach was established as a borough, a crew member of Henry Hudson’s ship, the Half Moon, spotted the land at the Manasquan River inlet and wrote, “This is a very good Land to fall with and a pleasant Land to see.”

Today, that pleasant land is filled with boardwalk amusements, an aquarium, a tiki bar known throughout the New York area, and a thriving, eclectic downtown.

GETTING STARTEDView full sizeLess than 50 miles from Staten Island via the Garden State Parkway, this Ocean County borough is close enough for a day trip, but offers plenty to keep young and old entertained for a weekend or even a week-long stay at a beach house. My trips into Point Pleasant Beach begin with a drive down Route 35, which after crossing the Manasquan River becomes known as Richmond Avenue, a reminder of home for those of us trekking in from Staten Island. Near the southern end of the borough, just across Washington Avenue from the large brown Brave New World Surf and Snow Shop lies my favorite lunch spot: Surf Taco (1300 Richmond Ave., 732-701-9000). This “Good food, good people, good vibe,” establishment serves up coastal cuisine: Tacos, burritos, wraps and salads inspired by Southern California. When I first moved to this area and Surf Taco was in its infancy, I struggled to convince my coworkers that beer-battered fish and shredded cabbage made for an appetizing taco. Today, Surf Taco has eight locations up and down the Jersey Shore, making enthusiastic converts out of many previously turned up their noses at the mention of a fish taco. For an introduction to Baha-style fish tacos, try the original: Cod battered in tempura topped with shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, white cilantro sauce and a squeeze of lime.
View full sizeOnce you’ve filled up on lunch, walk it off by heading over to Arnold Avenue, which bisects the borough from east to west. Families with children might skip this step and head directly for the boardwalk – but for those who enjoy browsing shops, the downtown business district offers everything from beach attire (The Swim Gallery, 602 Arnold Ave., 732-899-7221) and nautical-theme paintings and furniture (Point Beach Interiors, 649 Arnold Ave., 732-295-9243) to bicycle and skateboard accessories (Pro Skateboard Shop, 702 Arnold Ave., 732-714-7528). After visiting Point Pavilion(608 Arnold Ave., 732-899-6300), antique lovers should venture off Arnold Avenue to the intersection of Bay and Trenton avenues, where Point Pleasant Antique Emporium(622 Trenton Ave., 732-892-2222) offers more than 30,000 square feet of space showcasing the merchandise of more than 100 dealers.

ON THE BOARDWALKView full sizeDrop your loot in your car and walk or drive east to the boardwalk. If you have children, it’s time for games and amusement rides. The German swings and Moby Dick offer dizzying panoramic views of the borough and the ocean. Farther to the north are more kid-friendly rides. Visit the amusement park on a Tuesday afternoon or Friday evening and ride unlimited for $15.

At the south end of the boardwalk is Jenkinson’s Aquarium (300 Boardwalk, 732-899-1212), with sharks, coral reefs, penguins, alligators and seals. One admission price is good for the entire day, and the feeding schedule for the various animal exhibits is available online or at the front counter.

HAPPY HOURSIf rides aren’t your thing, head to Martell’s Tiki Bar (www.tikibar.com, 732-892-0131) and order a Sunset Margarita, Cosmopolitan or Coastal Kiss. With live bands and DJs performing after 9 p.m. most evenings, this is also a great spot to return to after the sun goes down. But in the meantime, enjoy your drink and watch the Point Pleasant Parasailers (30 Broadway, 732-714-2359) float above the water as the sun sets. DINNER DATES

View full sizeFor dinner, Jenkinson’s Pavilion couldn’t be closer, offering a full-service dinner menu with ocean views. A sushi bar and raw bar are also included in the pavilion space, which sits between the boardwalk and the beach. (For information on all Jenkinson’s attractions — including boardwalk
games and rides, aquarium, four boardwalk eateries and the beach itself —
visit www.Jenkinsons.com, or
call 732-892-0600).

But the more energetic should venture off the boardwalk for dinner and head north to Broadway Avenue, which runs parallel to the Manasquan River. Broadway and the adjacent Channel Drive offer several worthy dining options, including Jack Baker’s Lobster Shanty and Wharfside (both with ocean and river views, 81-83 Channel Drive, 732-899-6700) and Farrell’s Stout and Steak (“Jersey Shore dining with a touch of the Irish,” 401 Broadway 732-892-2090), but your best bet may be Spike’s Fish Market & Restaurant (415 Broadway, 732-295-9400).

This little shack is located at the west end of Broadway — you’ll know you’ve arrived when you see people sipping wine on chairs outside while they wait for their table inside this BYOB. Best to start with the Spike’s appetizer — three clams, three oysters and four peel-and-eat shrimp — and then continue to the crab-stuffed flounder with a side of linguini with marinara.

JUST DESSERTS

View full sizeCustomers rave about the key lime pie at Spike’s, but no trip to Point Pleasant Beach is complete without a jaunt back to the boardwalk for Kohr’s Frozen Custard (409 Boardwalk, 732-899-9444). A cold refreshing treat that dates back to a 1919 booth on the Coney Island boardwalk, it’s hard to believe this dessert has less sugar and fat than regular ice cream. With several combinations available – including strawberry and banana, orange and vanilla, and the new chocolate and mint – choosing one might be the most difficult part of your day at the beach.

Other popular dessert spots in Point Pleasant Beach include Hoffman’s Ice Cream (800 Richmond Ave., 732-892-0270) and for those homesick for S.I., Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices (201 Broadway 732-899-0077).

NIGHTLIFE SAMPLERFor those whose day at the shore begins when the sun sets, Jenks Club brings live bands and DJs most nights of the week — along with beer pong every Wednesday night and the Jersey Shore’s best cover bands on Friday nights. (Full calendar is available at www.JenksClub.com, 732-899-0569).

And if you’re up for a trip back into downtown, Uncle Vinnie’s Comedy Club has a full summer lineup, including Goumba Johnny, Andrew “Dice” Clay and Gilbert Gottfried (732-899-3900; if Uncle Vinnie’s sounds familiar, it’s because it has another location on New Dorp Lane in Staten Island).

But back to the boardwalk, if a trip to Kohr’s marks the end of your day, walk south, beyond the aquarium and the Fatima the psychic, and find a good bench to sit and enjoy what’s left of your frozen custard. This summer’s full moons fall around the 25th of the month. Around those dates, you’ll be treated to a moonrise over the beach (how could I forget that) and a gentle Atlantic. And you may even think you hear Ol’ Blue Eyes serenading you.